2026 Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program

Background
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) announces the 2026 Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program (Cooperator Program) funding opportunity. This program aims to support nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations in creating, expanding, and maintaining long-term export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products.

Grant Details
Under the Cooperator Program, USDA/FAS enters into agreements with Cooperators to share costs associated with maintaining and developing foreign markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. Financial assistance is competitive and aims to cover a broad array of agricultural commodities, excluding tobacco. The program anticipates awarding up to 20 grants, with a total available federal funding of no less than $34,500,000 per year through FY 2025. Each application must include a comprehensive marketing plan that outlines participant profiles, industry goals, promoted commodities, targeted markets, constraints and opportunities, proposed activities with budgets, administrative activities, worldwide personnel accounting, contingent liabilities, and promised contributions.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants must be nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations that promote exports of one or more U.S. agricultural commodities without having a business interest in or receiving remuneration from specific sales of these commodities. Applicants must also have an active registration in the U.S. Government System for Award Management (SAM) before the application submission deadline.

Period of Performance
The performance period for the contract will span from the award date until the completion of project activities as outlined in the approved application.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant opportunity is anticipated to be no less than $34,500,000 with potential individual grant awards up to this maximum amount depending on available funding.

Place of Performance
The geographic locations where the grant activities will take place are expected to involve international markets for U.S. agricultural products.